Pier-door.



H. T. GOSS- PIER DOOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. ll, [9M- Patented. D043. 14, 1915.

5 $HEETS--SHEET I.

' Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A TTORIVEV PIER DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. II, 1914.

' Patented Dec. 14:, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHET 3.

lNl/E/VTOR MW 4 TTOR/VEV PIER DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1914.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

' ATTORNEY resident of Rutherford, Ber State of New Jersey,

.. as airr orrro r:

T. GOSS, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE E.

FROTHING-HAM'CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PIER-DOOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY T. Goss, a citizen of the United States of America, and a have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pier-Doors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof' My invention relates to pier shed doors and has special reference to large heavy doors comprising a plurality of horizontal sections, and to means for raising and lowering the same.

One object of my invention is to provide a door of the character above indicated that shall be rugged and durable in construction, and an advantageous hoisting mecha nism by which it may be manipulated readily.

Another object is to provide means for supporting the door in its different positions that shall'be so arranged as to obstruct the overhead room in the pier shed to only a small degree, and shall be adapted to hold the door close to the ceiling of the shed and above the bottom plane of the usual ceiling beams.

Still another object is to provide a hoisting and counterweight mechanism that shall comprise two or more c'ounterweights and means for automatically varying the efiective pull exerted by one of them as the door is opened and closed and as more or less of the door weight is carried by the overhead support.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be set forth hereinafter, and in order that my invention maybe fully understood, I will describe the same in the following specification, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended'claims.

-Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation looking from within, of a pier shed door arranged and constructed in accordance with mv invention. A plan view of the door and its hoisting mechanism is shown in Fig. 2 on a larger scale, and a partially sectional elevation of the same is shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations at right angles to each other of the hoisting and counterweight mechanism of the previous figures. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 showing a modified ar- Specification of Letters Patent.

en county, and

Patented Dec. 11a, i915.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,348.

rangement of hoisting and counterweight mechanism which also embodies my inventlon. The mechanism is shownof a larger scale in plan view in Fig. 7 and in elevation in Fig. 8, the building structure and other parts being broken away to show the parts n deta1l. St1ll another modification of my Invention is shown in Fig. 9 which is a view corresponding to Figs. 3 and 6. The mechanism of this modification is shown on a larger scale in Figs. 10 and 11 which correspond respectively to Figs. 7 and 8. Fig.

12 is a sectional side elevation of an ar-- rangement in which the door is lowered side wall of a pier shed or like structure which is supported by a plurality of spaced, vertical, box beams 11 between which large, heavy doors 20 are disposed. Each of the beams 11 is composed of two sections separated by a middle partition web 12 and built up of channel beams 13, angle beams 14 and 15, and webs I6. The angle beams 15 present plane vertical surfaces on which run door rollers 21. Guideways for these rollers are completed by angle irons 17 and 18 which are arranged as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each of the doors 20 comprises a plurality of horizontal sections 22, the rollers 21 being supported at the respective ends of l These parts are preferably duplicated at the oppositeend offthe shaft 25 and near the o posite edge of the door as shown at 26 2?, and 29', the projection at the other lower corner of the door not showing in the drawings.

Parallel to the shaft 25 isa relatively short countershaft 30 having a pinion 33 and a pocket sheave 31 with which a hand chain 32 coiiperates. The pinion is operatively connected by suitable reducing gearing 34 with the shaft 25, the arrangement of parts being such that a relatively small force applied at the hand chain produces a slow rotation of the shaft 25 and constitutes a means for raising and lowering the door.

In addition to the counterweights 29, 29 is a counterweight 35 which as hereinafter explained, acts upon the door with a greater or less pull according to the position occupied by the door.

As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the guideways in which the rollers21 operate, are curved inwardly from a point at the top'of the door opening and extend for a considerable distance adjacent to the ceiling 40 of the shed which is supported by structural beams 41. The section 18 of the guideway which is close to the ceiling is in clined slightly to the horizontal in order to facilitate the closing of the door.

It is obvious that a material proportion "of the Weight of the door is sustained by the guideway when the door occupies its elevated position, whereas the entire Weight of the door is supported by the counterweights when the door is closed. It is for this reason that I have provided the auxiliary counterweight 35 and its attached mechanism. This mechanism comprises a sheave 36 which is supported from one of the webs 16, a differential pulley 37 which is mounted above the shaft 25 and is connected to it by gears 38, 38 and a sheave 39 which is attached to one of the beams 41 near the inner end of one of the guideways, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A chain 43 is connected at one end to the counterweight 35, extends over the sheave 36, then inwardly over the sheave 39, and back onto the differential pul1ey37. The arrangement of parts is such that the chain is wrapped completely around the several steps of the differential pulley when the door is shut, its opposite end being-attached to the small end of the pulley.

The operation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will be described before the modified structures of the other figures and is as follows: Assuming that the door is closed as shown in the drawings, attention is directed to the fact that the counterweight 29 is slightly below the lower end of the counterweight 35. As hereinafter set forth, the arrangement of the mechanism is such that the Weights do not conflict when the door is raised and lowered although they are too large to pass eachfother in the space available within the box beam. The door may be raised by manipulating the hand chain 32 which turns the shaft 30 and produces a relatively slow rotation of the shaft 25. As the shaft 25 rotates, the door moves upwardly and the weights 29, 29 move downwardly at thesame rate. The rotation of the shaft 25 also produces a rotation of the differential pulley 37, thereby unwinding the chain from the successive steps of the pulley beginning with the largest step until finally when the door is com- ,pletely opened the chain is wrapped only on the smallest step of the pulley.

The movement of the counterweight 29 is of course directly proportional to that of the door. But the movement of the counterweight 35 during the first movement of the door and the rate of its movement proportional to that of the door, gradually decreases as the door is raised. It becomes necessary therefore, in the arrangement shown, to so proportion the gears 38, 38f and to so space the 'counterwei'ghts 35, 29 that the former will not overtake the latter during the first part of its downward movement.

The leverage with which the weight 35 acts upon the pulley and consequently its effect upon the door, decreases as the door is raised and increases as the door is closed. By this means a compensation is effected flor the varying unsupported weight of the The modified structure shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, to which reference may now be had, is similar to that of the preceding figures except that the counterweight 35 is located below the counterweight 29 in the box beam instead of above it and the compensating mechanism varied accordingly. In this arrangement the differential pulley 37 is mounted directly on the shaft 25 instead of being geared to it, and consequently when the shaft rotates and the chain 43 is paid off of the differential pulley, step by step, the counterweight 35 is first lowered more rapidly than the coun terweight 29, when the door is raised, and

finally falls somewhat more slowly. Since the pocket sheave 26 has a diameter equalto the mean diameter of the differential pulley, it is evident that relative to each other the two weights are gradually separated during the first half of the door movement and returned to their original relative positions during the last part of the door movement.

Of course in some cases the size of the box beam relative to the size of the counterweights may be such that the two weights 29 and 35 may pass each other without conflict and there will then be no necessity for each other in a designing the mechanism to make the weights operate in any particular manner relative to each other. However, in commercial structures, the length of the counterweights being limited by the up and down space available, the'doors are so heavy that the counterweights are large and cannot pass box beam. The compensat ing efi'ect produced by the differential pulley 37 is thesame as that already described in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5.1

In both of the arrangements previously described, the sheave 39 is located at a considerable distance away from the differential pulley and substantially in a transverse plane midway the ends of the differential pulley in order to reduce the angle of inclination between the chain and the extreme steps of the differential pulley. The necemity for this arrangement is avoided by utilizing the structure shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive. In this arrangement, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, the differential pulley 37 is mounted to slide on a shaft-50 to which it is splined or otherwise operatively connected. This shaft is at an angle to the shaft25 to which it is connected by beveled gears 51 and 52 and is substantially normal to the plane of the sheave 36. The position of the differential pulley on the shaft 50 is varied automatically as the door is raised and lowered, by means of a feed screw 53. This screw is mounted in parallelism with the shaft 50 and is connected to it by gears 54 and 55. Threaded on the feed screw is a nut 56 which forms a part of a frame 57 and carries the frame with it. The differential pulley 37 is located on the shaft 50 between a pair of spaced arms 58 of the frame and hence the position of the differential pulley is determined by the frame which is actuated by the screw. The pitch of the screw and the positioning of the pulley are such that the chain 43 is always in a plane which is substantially normal to the axis of the pulley irrespective of the pulley step with which the effective engagement.

The speed of the differential pulley 37 relative to the shaft 25 is determined by the gears 51 and 52 and may be made to correspond to the relative positions ofthe counterweights 35 and 29, for example, if the counterweight 35 is slightly below the counterweight 29 when the door is closed, the speed of the pulley should be equal to or greater than the speed of the shaft 25, whereas if the opposite arrangement obtains, the speed of the pulley should be less than the speed of the shaft.

While the modification of Figs. 9 to 11 maintain the most accurate relation between the chain 43 and the differential pulley, the arrangements of the other figures are satischain is in factorily operative. The structures which embody my invention possess the important advantage among others, of carrying the door above the plane of the ceiling beams and consequently of being particularly adapted for use in. buildings such as pier sheds where the maximum available space is desired. It also leaves unobstructed such space as would be occupied by a traveling crane such as is indicated in outline at 60 in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 12 the rollers 21 between door sec tions 22 are arranged to run on vertical guides, the lower ends of which below the door opening are curved as at 61 and run into inclined straight portions 62 under the floor. In this case hoisting chains 63 are connected to the upper corners of the upper door section rim over pocket sheaves 64 on shaft 25 and'down to counterweights 65 to which they are attached.- counterweight chains 66 of considerable weigh-tare connected to'the counterweights and run up over sheaves 67 and from which they hang down freely to a point below their ends which are connected with the counterweights. Below their free ends receptacles 68 may be provided. In this case the door is lowered to open it. In its closed position the parts of chains 66 on opposite sides of sheaves 67 nearly balance each other but as the door is lowered those parts of the counterweight chains which are between the counterweights 65 and sheaves 67 are shortened so that the parts of these chains on the other sides of the sheave counteract to an I increasing extent the effect of the counter- 'weight 65. At the same time the weight of chains 63 are likewise shifting and these two affect the effect of counterweights 65. Thus as the weight of the door becomes sup ported by the parts 61, 62 of the guides, the eflect of the counterweights 65 is diminished.

In Figs. 13 and 14 the door sections 22 are not positively connected together by hinges, but their adjacent edges are provided with tongues and grooves as at 70 which allow a swinging movement between them. In this case two rollers such as 21 may be provided at each joint if desired. It is obvious that thls constructionmay be applied to any of the arrangements shown,

\ except that illustrated in Fig. 12.

posed as are indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a door composed of a plurality of horizontal transverse sections, guide rails therefor arranged to support a portion of the weight of the door in its open position, counterweights, and means for causing the efiective pull of. one of the weights to vary gradually in accordance with the varying positions of the door and the varying effect of said supporting means.

2. In combination, a door composed of a plurality of hinge-connected sections, guide rails therefor curved inwardly at the end of the door opening to constitute a partial support for the door when open, rollers mounted in alinement with the hinge axes at the respective edges of the door and adapted to cooperate with the guide rails, counterweights, and means for causing the effective pull of-one of the counterweights to vary gradually in accordance with the variations in the position of the door.

3. In combination, a pair of spaced box beams having a door opening between them, a door composed of a pluralitv of bingeconnected transverse sections, guide rails for the door attached to the box beams and curved inwardly and upwardly at the top of the door opening to constitute a support for the door in its open position, means se cured to the door edges adapted to cooperate with the guide rails, a counterweight shaft above the door opening having a sheave at one end, a counterweight in the adjacent box beam, a suspension chain cooperating with said sheave and connected at its respective ends to the lower corner of the door and to the counterweight, a second counterweight in the same box beam and spaced longitudinally of the beam from the first-named counterweight, and a chain op eratively connecting the counterweight to the differential pulley.

4. In combination, a pair of spaced box beams having a door opening between them, a door composed of a plurality of hingeconnected transverse sections, guide rails for the door attached to the box beams and curved inwardly and upwardly at the top of the door opening to constitute a support for the door in its open position, rollers mounted substantially in alinement with the hinge axes of the door sections at the respective edges of the door and adapted to cooperate with the guide rails,'a counterweight shaft above the door opening having a sheave at one end, a counterweight in the adjacent box beam, a suspension chain cooperating with said sheave and connected at its respective ends to the lower corner of the door and to the counterweight, a second counterweight in the same box beam and spaced slightly above the first-named counterweight, a differential pulley operatively connectedto' the counterweight shaft and a chain connecting the second counterweight to the differential pulley, and means for guiding said chain so that it is wound onto and off of the succes sive steps of the differential pulley as the door is raised and lowered, whereby the second counterweight exerts greater or less torque on the counterweight shaft and assists the first-named counterweight to a greater or less extent depending upon the position of the door, said differential pulley being arranged to operate at a greater speed than the counterweight shaft and said sheave corresponding to the mean diameter of the differential pulley to maintain a predetermined minimum distance between the counterweights in the box beam in all positions of the door.'

5. In combination, a door composed of a plurality of horizontal transverse sections, members projecting horizontally from the opposite sides thereof, parallel guide rails for the members, said guides being substantially vertical at the sides of the door opening and extending away from the door opening at the end of the door opening at such an angle as to support a part of the weight of the door, a counterweight and intermeeffect of the counterweight on the door as the weight of'the door becomes supported by the extended portions of the guide rails.

6. In combination, a pair of spaced beams having a door opening between them, a door composed of a plurality of hinge-connected transverse sections, guide rails for the door attached to the beams and curved inwardly and upwardly at theE -top of the door opening to constitute a vsupport for the door in its open position, :rollers mounted substantially in alinement with the hinge axes of the door sections at the respective edges of the door and adapted to cooperate with the guide rails, a counterweight shaft above the door opening,a counterweight, a differential pulley operatively connected to the counterweight shaft and a chain connecting the counterweight to the differential pulley, and means for guiding said chain so that it is wound-onto and off of the successive steps of the differential pulley as the door .is raised and lowered, whereby the countereratively connected to the door,

weight exerts greater or less torque on the counterweight shaft, depending upon the position of the door.

7. In combination, a door, a counterweight mechanism comprising a differential device and two counterweights,"'one acting uniformly in all positions of the door and the other acting continuously through the differential device, said weights being arranged in tandem in a laterally restricted space.

8. In combination, a door, a counterweight mechanism comprising a differential device and two counterweights, one acting uniformly in all positions of the door and the other acting continuously through the differential device, said weights being arranged in tandem in a laterally restricted space and so operated as to maintain a predetermined minimum distance between the counterweights.

9. In combination, a door, a. counterweight i mechanism comprising a differential device and two counterweigths, one acting uniformly in all positions of the door and the other acting continuously through the differential device.

10. In combination, a door, a'counterweight mechanism comprising a shaft, a differential pulley and a sheave operatively connected to the shaft, two counterweights suspended respectively to cooperate with the differential pulley and the sheave, and means for automatically adjusting the position of the differential pulley in an axial direction.

11. In combination, a door, a shaft operatively connected to the door, a differential pulley slidably mounted on the shaft, a counterweight chain adapted to cooperate with the differential pulley, and means dependent upon the position of the door for adjusting the differential pulley longitudinally of the shaft.

12. In combination, a door, a shaft opa diflerential pulley slidably mounted on the shaft, a counterweight chain adapted to cooperate with the differential pulley, means dependent upon the position of the door for adjusting the differential pulley longitudinally of the shaft, a counterweight attached to the chain adapted to act non-uniformly on the door, a second counterweight arranged to act uniformly onthe door, and means dependent upon the position of the door for adjusting the differential nally of the shaft.

13.. In combination, a door, a counterweight mechanism comprising a shaft, a sheave thereon, a counterweight suspended to cooperate with the sheave and adapted to act uniformly on the door, a countershaft adapted to cooperate with said shaft, a differential pulley longitudipulley mounted to slide on the countershaft, a second counterweightsuspended to cooperate with the dilferential pulley and adapted to act non-uniformly on the door, and means for automatically adjusting the position of the differential pulley on the countershaft.

14. In combination, a door, a counterweight mechanism comprising a shaft, a sheave thereon, a counterweight suspended to cooperate with the sheave and adapted to act uniformly on the door, a countershaft adapted to cooperate with said shaft, a differential pulley mounted to slide on the countershaft, a second counterweight suspended to cooperate with the diflerential pulley and adapted to act non-uniformly on the door, and automatic means responsive to the rotation of the countershaft and the pulley for adjustilfigfthe position of the pulley on the counters a t.

15. In combination, a door, a counterweight mechanism comprising a shaft, a sheave thereon, a counterweight suspended to cooperate with the sheave and adapted to act uniformly on the door, a countershaft adapted to cooperate with said shaft, a differential pulley mounted to slide on the countershaft, a second counterweight suspended to cooperate with the differential pulley and adapted to act non-uniformly on the door, and an adjusting screw operatively connected to the countershaft and adapted to shift the position of the differential pulley on the countershaft.

16.. In combination, apair of spaced beams having a door opening between them, a door composed of a plurality of hinge-connected sections, means'for guiding the sections, and constituting a support for the door in its open position, a counterweight shaft above the door opening, a sheave thereon, a counter- -weight suspended to cooperate with the sheave and located in a laterally restricted space, a differential device operatively connected to the counterweight shaft, the second counterweight in the same restricted space suspended to cooperate with the differential pulley, whereby the second counterweight exerts a greater or less taut on the counterweight shaft depending upon the'position of the door, said differential device being arranged to operate at a greater speed than the counterweight shaft, to maintain a predetermined minimum distance between the counterweights in said restricted space.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26 day of March, 1914, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY T. GOSS. Witnesses:

GRACE M. GETTY, MAUD EDGAR. 

